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Why is Blogger being so difficult?  For about the last week, I have not been able comment on any blog which uses their newer comment link, as many of you do.  It said, I have to login, I do, although I am already logged in, and then it sends me around in circles. I finally went on to the blogger forum and many are having the same problem.  Thanks to the other bloggers who posted the fix, I am now able to play catch up with everyone during the week.

Ruddy Turnstone

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On our last morning on the island, we awoke early. The sun was on the rise, the air was heavy with moisture and thick with insects. We took one last driving through the refuge. The birds were busy swooping and diving in an effort to gather breakfast. The few ponies we saw were barely visible through the dense fog.

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Ponies of Chincoteague ~

I am not certain of the exact age of the foals we saw but they were still nursing. Since most foals are weaned by the age of 3 or 4 months of age, I would venture to say they were about 2 months old. The little guys were never a step away from their mamas.

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The small island of Chincoteague became well known when, in 1947, Maguerite Henry wrote “Misty of Chincoteague” . Her book became well read, won the Newbery Honor and in 1961was made into movie. The feral ponies actually live on island of Assateague where they live under the watchful eye of the Volunteer Fire Company. By order of federal law, no more than 150 ponies are allowed to live on the VA side of this island.

To maintain the herd, the Fire Company, annually, rounds up the ponies and auctions they off. This has been proven to be a winning arrangement. The population stays under control and the money raised benefit the Fire Company and in turn the island.

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We started our VA travels by taking the Cape May, NJ/ Lewes, DE ferry. We drove the car on to the ferry and ran up to the front deck and took a seat in one of deck chairs. While this ferry doesn’t cut much time off the travel time, it does allow for a nice hour break in the driving. It was a bit overcast, with a strong cool breeze. It was the start of a few days of relaxation.